Textbook publishers ignoring Texas school board’s inane interventions

Science stays in place after the board's reviewers request other stuff.

Textbook publishers have largely ignored the suggestions made by reviewers appointed by the Texas State School Board. Various members of the board have been attempting to undercut the teaching of evolution when formulating new science standards. After a tough fight that resulted in some confusing requirements, textbook makers were given the chance to implement the new standards. Naturally, when it came time to review the texts, the school board appointed a handful of creationists to the review group.

Just as naturally, those individuals requested that "'creation science' based on biblical principles should be incorporated into every biology book that is considered for adoption" and complained about how evolution was presented. The textbooks were supposed to be revised to reflect these complaints. Now, the publishers have submitted the texts they were supposed to have revised in light of these complaints. And, the good news is that the texts seem fine.

The Texas Freedom Network, which follows (among other things) science education in the state, has had a chance to look over the proposed revisions, and it hasn't found anything objectionable at first glance. Obviously, since teaching creation science is unconstitutional, it didn't make the revised versions. But many of the other complaints about the presentation of evolution were ignored, too. A biologist contacted by the organization agreed with its assessment—the texts seem scientifically sound.

We got in touch with the Texas Freedom Network's Dan Quinn, and he told Ars that the publishers did make some changes in response to the complaints, but did so in a way that didn't dilute the science. For example, reviewers complained about evolution being presented as a fact in statements like “Evolutionary theory offers the most logical explanation." In the revised version, that got changed to “Scientists who analyze and evaluate these data make the professional judgment that evolutionary theory offers the most logical explanation." In another case, the texts mention that "we evaluate some early experiments more critically than they were viewed at the time," which is true; nevertheless, the excerpt accurately notes that the general conclusion drawn from the early work has withstood more recent experiments.

"The publishers are clearly aware of the ideological motivations behind some of the required curriculum standards and the anti-evolution objections raised by reviewers," Quinn told Ars.

At this point, the reviewers get the next say and will rate the texts for their adherence to the state science standards. There's still a chance they could give the science books low ratings. But, from the sound of things, none of the books that are available will make the critics of evolution very happy.